april 07, 2011

defendernetwork.com • Serving the Houston area for over 80 years

Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

www.defendernetwork.com WEEK OF APRIL 7, 2011 | FREE Volume 80 | Number 23

SPORTS TEXANS CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK THROUGH YMCA IN THIRD WARD • P10

H PAGE 4

HEALTH

CHAG’S PLACE

P12

FEEDING BABYBreast pump or not?

ENTERTAINMENT

PEACOCK RECORDSRich history recognized

P5

P3

NAACP

NEWSTALK

Addressing police brutality

P8

in HoustonH PAGE 6

Retired Washington Judge Lillian McEwen has published her memoir titled, “D.C. Unmasked & Undressed.” It’s a steamy tell-all chronicling her private life, and she pays particular attention to her long-time relationship with U.S. Supreme

Court Justice Clarence Thomas. See what McEwen has to

say about Thomas.

Pres. ObamaReady for 2012 election

President Barack Obama is all set to run again. Obama offi cially launched his reelection campaign with an email to supporters, and asked that they help him maintain the progress that has been made during his fi rst term in offi ce. Acknowledging that the election is more that a year and half away, Obama said the time to start mobilizing for 2012 is now.

H PAGE 4

impacting our schoolsin Houstonin HoustonGangs

NAACP’s Gary Bledsoe and Benjamin Jealous

Clarence Thomas’ Ex-girlfriend tells all

2ontheweb

DEFENDER | WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 defendernetwork.com

See more on: defendernetwork.com

Stay Connected! Experience the Defender on the world wide web.

Editorial cartoons

Will you vote for President Obama in Nov. 2012?

In The Book Corner

Judge Mathis

News & OpinionInvestigate Standardized Testing

Automotive highlight2011 BUICK REGAL CXL TURBO SEDAN

Discover theNew Look, New Size,

New Content, New AttitudeDesigned for your convenience, the new Defender is packaged in

an easy to handle tabloid size, with a colorful contemporary fl air featuring more content as we celebrate 80 years of service to the African-American community.

The new Defender logo with the large star refl ects that “You Are the STAR.” Each week you are invited to share your opinions and comments on our stories and the issues confronting our city on the defendernetwork.com. Let your voice be heard and invite others to join you.

Look for the Defender at community locations, Krogers, Fiesta, Gerlands and soon CVS pharmacies.

And visit our website

New Look, New Size, New Content, New Attitude

is packaged in an easy to handle tabloid size, with a colorful contemporary fl air featuring more content as we celebrate 80 years of service to the African-American

You Are the STAR.” Each week you are invited to share your opinions and comments on our stories and the

. Let your voice be heard and invite

at community locations, Krogers, Fiesta, Gerlands and soon CVS

And visit our website

defendernetwork.com Discover the Defender

Question of the Week

The Hood Health Handbook

“In all my world travels, never have I picked up a book with the kind of love. concern and information the I’ve seen put

into this book...information is power

3defendernetwork.com WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 | DEFENDER

localbriefs


newstalkNAACP addresses police brutality

By ASWAd WAlKERDefender

During its regional meeting held

recently in Houston, the NAACP initi-ated a two-prong approach in its strategy to address police brutality. In addition to gathering testimony from victims of po-lice brutality, the civil right organization disseminated information to the public on ways to interact with offi cers to reduce their chances of experiencing an escala-tion of force.

“We plan to take the information gathered and fi le a collective complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice,” said Robert Rooks, forum organizer and the National NAACP’s director of Criminal Justice Programs Advocacy and Research Department.

“The forum, which sought to have a discussion on recent police brutal-ity issues in Houston and expand that conversation to touch on such issues from a national perspective, went well,” Rooks added. “We had a very good opening day crowd; very diverse, and from several states. And they left with the message that

police brutality is not just a local issue and neither are the solutions merely local.”

A pamphlet titled, “The NAACP Real World Guide to Interacting with Law Enforcement: The 411 on the Five-O,” was handed out to participants. In addition, testimonies from reported victims of po-

lice brutality were taken during the public hearing, as well as during one-on-one sessions with complainants and collegiate information gatherers.

The pamphlet contains tips for the general public on how to interact with police in various situations. Categories are titled, “In Your Car,” “On the Street,” “In Your Home,” and “If You are Arrest-ed.” In addition, the pamphlet contains a nine-point “Do’s and Don’ts If You Are Approached by the Police.”

This list includes, “Do ask for a lawyer immediately upon being arrested or being placed into custody;” “Do stay calm and keep your emotions from get-ting the best of you – be courteous even if the police offi cer is not;” and, “Don’t make any statements about the incident without fi rst having spoken to an attorney – anything you say will probably be held against you.”

No exact date has been set for when the NAACP will offi cially fi le the collec-tive complaint of police brutality with the U.S. Department of Justice. However, the action is slated to take place later this year.

Cleveland gang rape suspects in courtBond has been revoked for one of the suspects in the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl.Timothy Daray Ellis did not appear at the Liberty County Courthouse where he was scheduled for a docket call. Six other co-defendants were in court April 4th. Fourteen adults and fi ve juveniles are charged in connection with the rapes that prosecutors say took place at least four times starting in September 2010. Since February, police have arrested individuals ranging from a middle-school student to a 27-year-old, accusing them of sexually assaulting the girl on at least four occasions starting in September in the town of Cleveland.

Council redistricting hearings coming up As Houston prepares to add two new City Council districts due to an increase in population, three public hearings have been scheduled to get citizen input on the redrawing of district lines. They will take place Wednesday, April 13, at 9 a.m., and Wednesday, April 20, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second fl oor of City Hall at 901 Bagby Street. Those who desire to speak at the hearings should reserve time by contacting the Offi ce of the City Secretary at 832-393-1100.

Fort Bend ISD makes major cutsFrom cuts in the classroom to layoff s to increasing class sizes, the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees made some very diffi cult decisions about its future. The school board said it would have preferred not to cut teachers fi rst but they really had no choice because state law mandates that teachers not being retained the following year must know about it with at least 45 days remaining in the current school year. With a 5-2 vote, 68 people lost their jobs, saving the Fort Bend Independent School District $4.1 million. In all, more than 400 positions are gone -- most through attrition and voluntary resignations. The district says these are just the beginning of the cuts, which are dependent on how much the state takes from them.

North Forest Supt. placed on leaveBy ASWAd WAlKER

DefenderNorth Forest Independent School

District (NFISD) Superintendent Dr. Ad-rain Johnson was placed on administrative leave recently after a unanimous vote by the seven-member district board. The decision came a mere four months after NFISD emerged from state control.

In 2008, Texas Educa-tion Commissioner Robert Scott took the helm of NFISD as the district tee-tered on the state of bank-ruptcy. In doing so, Scott placed Johnson in charge and replaced the locally elected trustees with a board of managers he ap-pointed.

It has been reported that Johnson, who formerly served as an associate commis-sioner at the Texas Education Agency and headed the La Marque school district,

did not develop a healthy working relationship with the current board, which re-placed the board appointed by Scott in November 2010.

According to an of-fi cial statement from the Board: “In light of ongoing fi scal defi ciencies, gradua-tion rate concerns at North Forest High School, ac-creditation issues, and time sensitive staff reduction priorities, in the best inter-est of the district, the Board

of Trustees felt it necessary to move in a different direction by placing the Superintendent on paid administrative

leave.”It is not known what the board’s next

move will be concerning Johnson. The board, however, has a history of fi ring or removing from the position four of the fi ve previous NFISD superintendents. What is known, however, is that Coleman and other board members have expressed a desire to move in a different direction regarding the district’s leadership.

“Educating the students of NFISD continues to be the number one priority of the district,” said the offi cial statement. “The Board is confi dent that the district has capable and competent individuals who can continue day-to-day operations.”

Johnson reportedly earns $204,000 an-nually as superintendent, and will continue to receive remuneration during this process. In the interim, Edna Forté, executive direc-tor of Federal & State Programs, will serve as the district’s acting superintendent.

Superintendent Dr. Adrain Johnson

4national

U.S.briefs



VOLUME 80 • NUMBER • 23APRIL 7 - APRIL 13, 2011

PublisherSonceria Messiah-JilesEditorVon JilesAssociate EditorsReshonda BillingsleyMarilyn Marshall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila

ColumnistYvette ChargoisSport EditorsMax EdisonDarrel K. ArdisonContributing WritersAswad WalkerWebmasterCorneleon Block

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender audited By Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2011 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

Rev. Jesse Jackson compares Memphis to MadisonOn the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s death, Rev. Jesse Jackson noted that American workers honored the slain civil rights leader by standing in solidarity with public employees in Madison, Wis., and other states. “I was in Memphis at Dr. King’s side,” Jackson said, “and on Monday I was in Madison, for there is a straight line from Memphis to Madison … Teachers and nurses and sanitation workers are standing up against an attempt to strip them of their right to bargain collectively. Students have come to their aid, while protesting deep cuts in university and school budgets.” Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in Memphis supporting striking sanitation workers.

Obama gets mixed reviews at Harlem appearancesThe first president of African descent made his way to Harlem, and for many in the community, Barack Obama’s visit was nothing short of a big letdown. While Harlem’s Black politicos were well represented at the Studio Museum, a scan of the audience showed that between 80 and 85 percent of the audience was neither African-American nor Latino. Earlier in the evening some 50 people forked over $30,800 each to attend a DNC fundraiser at a restaurant. A block away, more than 200 demonstrators – many of them unemployed – braved an icy wind chill factor.

State of Arizona bans race, sex-based abortionsArizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed an abortion bill into law banning abortions in that state based on the race and gender of the baby. Republican lawmakers in the state are convinced that race or gender-based abortions are occurring and point to the abortion rates among minorities. Some believe the law should have been enacted much sooner. Critics said there was no solid proof that race-based abortions, in which a pregnancy is terminated due to the baby being of an unwanted mixed race, are even occurring.

Compiled by TriceEdneyWire.com, NNPA and AFRO Staff

ClarenceThomas’Ex discusses controversial memoir

By KAm WilliAmS

Retired Judge Lillian McEwen was born, reared and educated in Washington, D.C. Her stellar legal career includes stints as a prosecutor, Capitol Hill staff counsel, criminal defense

attorney, law professor and federal judge. McEwen recently published her memoir, “D.C.

Unmasked & Undressed,” a steamy tell-all chronicling her sexually-adventurous private life, paying particular attention to her longtime relationship with now U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

In the process, McEwen belatedly resurrects the reputation of Anita Hill by offering proof that the dis-graced law professor was telling the truth 20 years ago when she testified against Thomas during his controver-sial confirmation hearings.

KW: Why didn’t you approach Anita Hill to sup-port her allegations in her time of need?

LE: There were other individuals who had worked with Clarence who were willing to testi-fy at the confirmation hearings. So, I wasn’t the only one who could have corroborated Anita Hill’s testimony. Furthermore, long before the nomination, I was utterly convinced that she and Clarence had had a sexual relationship.

KW: Why so?LE: There came a time during his

tenure as chairman of the Equal Employment Op-portunity Commission (EEOC) that he began to complain vocif-erously about the behavior of Anita Hill at the office. He would whine about it every day. He even

asked me on several occasions to come to the office to wait for him, because “Anita Hill has to see that I have another woman in my life now. It has to be made plain to her that we don’t have the same type of relationship we once had.”

KW: Do you think Hill testified out of bitterness as a woman scorned?

LE: I think it’s more complicated than that. I think Anita Hill never imagined that she would be the only person testifying against the man who had given her a job, who had been at her beck and call, and who had made sure that she was a successful attorney.

KW: Do you respect his intellect? LE: When I left him, Clarence said he was envious

and resentful of my ability to read for pleasure. It had been obvious to me that he had no real intellectual curi-osity whatsoever and that the material he had to handle at the EEOC was fairly difficult for him to handle. At that

time, he was making speeches all over the country in support of the Republican agenda, and he al-

ways employed a speechwriter to help him. It was very difficult for him to process,

focus on or to grasp complex ideas. This was a man who prided himself on his perceiving the world in very stark terms.

KW: In your opinion, is he arro-gant or racist?

LE: One of his favorite sayings [about N-word and flies] is a chant

that racist white people used to say while sitting on their porches to frighten and intimi-date Black people passing by on the sidewalk. I regard that as self-hating, and a legacy of slavery.

Obama lays foundation for 2012 winDefender News Services

President Barack Obama said his recently launched re-election campaign is “more focused, and more innovative than anything we’ve built before.”

In an email announcing his candidacy, Obama asked supporters to help him begin the race and spread the word. His announcement came 20 months before the November, 2012 election.

“We’re doing this now,” he said, “because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravagan-zas, but with you – with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build.

“So even though I’m focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more,

the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today.”

Obama also asked supporters to help him maintain the progress that has been made during his first term in office.

“We’ve always known that lasting change wouldn’t come quickly or easily,” he said. “It never does. But as my administra-tion and folks across the country fight to protect the progress we’ve made – and make more – we also need to begin mobi-lizing for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin campaigning in earnest.”

Obama stressed the need to work together.“This will be my final campaign, at least as a candidate,”

he said. “But the cause of making a lasting difference for our families, our communities, and our country has never been about one person. And it will succeed only if we work together.”

5defendernetwork.com WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 DEFENDER

entertainmentwhat’sup

Peacock RecordsRich history recognized


H Lionsgate extends deal with filmmaker Tyler PerryLionsgate has extended its first-look movie and home entertainment deal with filmmaker Tyler Perry for at least another two years, continuing a partnership dating back to 2005. According to Variety, the agreement calls for Perry to deliver at least two more “Madea” movies, among other possible films. Perry’s 10 films for Lionsgate over the past six years have grossed more than $520 million at the North American box office while his DVDs have sold more than 40 million units. Lionsgate is releasing “Madea’s Big Happy Family” on April 22 and the upcoming comedy “We the Peeples,” which Perry produced. The deal also includes an option of additional films with Perry attached as a producer, writer, director or star to be made in conjunction with Perry’s production companies’ 34th Street Films, Very Perry Films, and Tyler Perry Studios.

H Knowles says no family beef, he’s just busyTo prevent any rumors from spreading, Matthew Knowles, now the ex-manager of his daughter Beyoncé, released a statement stomping out any suspicions about there being a beef between the two. Some speculate that the pair’s relationship hasn’t recovered from a family scandal last year, when Knowles fathered a child while he was still married to the star’s mother, Tina. The baby was born three months after Tina Knowles filed for divorce. However, in his statement, Music World Entertainment’s top guy emphasized the elimination of duties was a mutual agreement. Knowles, who has been managing his daughter’s career since she was a teen, will have more time to focus on his growing gospel label and its artists.

H Toni Braxton to star in WE Network reality seriesToni Braxton has done quite a bit to stay above water and maintain her lifestyle without a dime in the bank and after filing bankruptcy. Braxton’s latest financial troubles came to light in October 2010, when she admitted to owing between $10 million and $50 million in unpaid debts. But she recently signed a deal for a new reality show, “Braxton Family Values,” with her sisters and her mother, to bring that cash flow back her way. The drama-filled show will premiere on April 12 on the WE Network.

By REShONdA TATE BilliNgSlEyDefender

Long before Motown, a Hous-tonian was busy showing America what Black music was really about. Now, the work of Don Robey and his

record label, Peacock Records, is about to go down in history.

Robey founded Peacock Records in Houston in 1949. Producing legendary talent like Bobby Bland, Little Richard and Junior Parker, not only made the label the largest Black-owned record label in the country prior to the rise of Detroit’s Motown label in the 1960s, but has earned them a spot in Texas history as the Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognizes the Peacock Record Label by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker.

The designation honors the record label as an important and educational part of local history.

“The Official Texas Historical Marker program helps bring attention to commu-nity treasures and the importance of their preservation,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the THC. “Awareness and education are among the best ways to guar-antee the preservation of our state’s history. This designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of important cultural resources.”

A dedication ceremony to commemorate the event will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at noon at 4120 Lyons Avenue near Benson Street.

For many, the honor is long overdue.

“My father would be proud,” said Robey’s daugh-ter, DonaLeah Robey Fields. “We need to preserve our future by remembering the past. There’s a big difference between the music of the past and present, but all of that is part of history. And people need to know about it. The state of music is still growing and still has valuable place in society.”

From the first musical artists it signed, like Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, to the acquiring of Duke Records in Memphis in 1952, Peacock Records became the dominant record label for many African-American musicians.

Peacock made its mark on the record industry when there were few African-American owned record companies and few companies that aggressively marketed their music to a mainstream audience. The industry considered much of the music made by Blacks as “Race Records.”

Peacock Records aggressively booked musicians, recorded the music, produced the music, and marketed the music under the leadership of Robey.

In 1945, Robey and partner Evelyn Johnson opened the Bronze Peacock Dinner

Club located on Erastus Street at Liberty Road in Houston.

“That move may have been question-able in those days as two larger clubs, the Eldorado Ballroom and the Club Matinee, already existed and offered entertainment to Houston’s African-American community,” said James Ford Jr., who led the efforts to get Peacock Records recognized by the THC.

“It is a low squat building of no particular architectural genre now owned by Charity Baptist Church. But the Bronze

Peacock’s interior physical makeup, a stage in the center of the room much like a boxing arena, and the talent that it brought to that stage, quickly evolved it into a hit with the club go-ing public,” he said.

The club became a venue that many of the touring Black musi-cal artists gravitated to. The Bronze Peacock, doubling as a restaurant and recording studio, became a Mecca for African-American musical recording. In 1953, Robey add Duke Records in Memphis to his holdings and created

Back Beat Records as a subsidiary to Peacock. With the acquisition of Duke, Robey also acquired artists such as Bobby Bland, Johnny Ace, Willie Mae Thornton, Little Richard and Junior Parker.

Each of those artists has proven over the years to be a major headline maker in the recording industry. However, Johnny Ace’s recording of Pledging My Love brought a gold record to Duke-Peacock by 1960.

Key to the success of Peacock-Duke Records was the process that was imple-mented. The artist could be recorded at a

number of studios from New York to California under Don Robey’s employment. The finished product could have come from a number of differ-ent production lines – Newark, N.J., Terre-Haute, Ind., Los Angeles, Nashville or Hous-ton. Robey’s idea was to have conveniently located plants in order to expedite shipping of the records to an even larger number of distributors.

At the Houston head-quarters, Peacock employed a six-press record pressing plant from 1952 to 1960. By 1960, there were 100 single artists

contracted with the recording labels. Over a year’s period of time, Peacock controlled more than 500 persons, either in music writ-ing, background singing, musicians, drivers, valets, road managers and others.

“Peacock’s existence for a little over 20 years is considered short-lived by some standards,” Ford said. “But it surely was a success story during a dark time in our American history when most Black musi-cians could only be recorded on a Black label or be offered on white labels as ‘race music.’ ”

Bobby “Blue” Bland

Peacock Artists

n Bobby Blandn Little Richardn Junior Parkern Betty Cartern Five Blind Boys of Mississippin Mighty Clouds of Joy Mighty Clouds of Joy

6 DEFENDER | WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 defendernetwork.com


coverpage

Worthing shooting sheds light on city’s gang problem

By REShONdA TATE BilliNgSlEyDefender

A ccording to the Houston Police Department’s “Gang Tracker” database, there are roughly 234 gangs in Houston, boasting more than 10,000 members. Police

believe some of those members are responsible for the recent fatal shooting at Worthing High School.

That shooting, which happened during a Powder Puff football game, left one person dead, five others injured, and authorities scrambling to combat a growing gang problem. Tragedy on the field

The football game – where girls play against each other – was not sanctioned by the school and school was not in ses-sion at the time of the shooting.

Witnesses told police that a Ford Taurus full of young men drove onto the field and a brief fistfight broke out. The fight appeared to be over before the shooting started, police say. Someone in the crowd of spectators may have fired back at the gunmen.

Officers later found a blood-stained Taurus at an apartment complex five miles away. Police couldn’t confirm whether the shooting victims were them-selves part of a gang, but they say gang ties appear to be part the of the shooters’ motive.

No arrests have been made in the vi-olent clash. Tremaine De Ante’ Paul, 18, a former Worthing student, died in the shooting in the school’s intramural field at 9215 Scott St. Paul, a former Worthing student, actually graduated last year from La Marque High, family members said.

“My son was a very smart, outgoing person,” said Tremaine’s mother, Lakei-sha Paul. “He wasn’t a violent person, and he wasn’t in a gang. He was just get-ting his life together.”A growing problemResidents of the Sunnyside commu-nity where Worthing is located say

the gang problem is nothing new. In fact, the school was recently named one of the top two most dangerous schools in HISD in a survey of 1,604 teachers. Nearby Madison High School was the only other campus la-beled dangerous in that survey published in Janu- ary by the Houston Federation of Teachers

union.Some residents say two gangs – Early 103,

from Yates High School, and the Murder Mob, from Worthing High School – have been feud-ing over the past year, with three shootings over the past two months.

Residents say they’ve asked for more security – to no avail.

Street gang experts faulted the Houston School Independent Dis-trict for turning away help with the problem prior to the shooting.

“We tried to get in the school, but somehow it was said that gang programs [were] not wanted

in the school system because we don’t want this school to be recognized as a gang-related school,” said Reginald Gordon, who deals with gangs for State Rep. Borris Miles.

Gordon, who has been very vocal in his complaints, says HISD leaders chose their public image over student safety.

“It’s very frustrating,” he said. “It is a problem when you have that kind of red tape that you have to go to when you know the work that you have to do on dealing with gang members.”

Houston City Council Member Wanda Adams said that she was frustrated that the school’s principal seemed unaware of the many anti-gang measures that could have been fully in place before the shooting.

“We really need to implement some gang prevention programs because they’re recruiting youngsters as young as 10 years old to be a part of gangs in this commu-nity,” Adams said.

Worthing Principal Tamara Sterling disputed that claim, saying, “Our doors are always and have always been open.”Combating the problem

HISD says they are definitely address-ing the gang problem in Worthing and other schools. Since the shooting, district officials say they have an increased police presence at the school, along with teams of counselors. A district spokesman also said the school has not had a lot of violent incidents and that school security includes

Dangerous• Madison• Worthing• Hogg• Key• Sharpstown Middle School• Sugar Grove• WoodsonUnsafe• Chavez• Jones• Kashmere• 9th Grade Academy• Sharpstown• Sam Houston• Sterling• Westbury• Wheatley

• Yates• Black• Fondren• Fonville• Hamilton• Henry• Long• WelchSomewhat Safe• Bellaire• BT Washington• CLC• Davis• DeBakey• Jordan• Lamar• LECJ• Milby• Waltrip• Westside

• Burbank• Clifton• Cullen• Fleming• Hartman• Johnston• Lanier• McReynolds• Pershing• Stevenson• Thomas• West BriarExtremely Safe• Carnegie• HSPVA• Pin Oak

*Source Houston Federation of Teachers

The Houston Federation of Teachers released a survey on the most dangerous/safest schools. Survey criteria included presence of gangs and drugs on campus, assaults against staff and threats to staff and their property.

HISD schools range from dangerous to safe

WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 DEFENDER 7

classified

a gang unit that enforces dress codes, including a ban on gang colors.

In fact, the district has beefed up security because of threats of retaliation.

“HISD has increased security at var-ious schools where authorities believe it is necessary, based on intelligence gathered from police and other sources. We take threats of retaliation seriously and are responding appropriately,” said spokesman Jason Spencer.

“HISD’s Gang Suppression Unit works in partnership with anti-gang units from other Houston-area law enforcement agencies to combat gang activity in schools,” added HISD Police Chief Jimmy Dotson. “There are four

specialized officers on this team who use a three-pronged approach that fo-cuses on suppression, enforcement and education.

“The HISD Gang Suppression Unit works with the schools to gather infor-mation and intelligence that they use in an effort to track gang activity that over-flows from neighborhoods into schools,” Dotson said. “They also give education-al presentations to staff and students at all schools. Right now, these officers are focused on preventing future incidences of gang violence on campus.”

Police said that people can remain anonymous in reporting gang activity online at www.stophoustongang.org.

Continued from Page 6



healthhealthnotes

A Defender & Texas Children’s Hospital Alliance

Should you use a breast pump to

feed your baby?

Former NICU patient celebrates 20 years of service

Many women today are making the decision to breastfeed their babies and often raise questions about whether they should pump and store milk.

“I initially tell moms that their baby is the best pump that they will have,” said Nancy Hurst, director of Texas Children’s Women’s Support Services and Milk Bank. “Babies stimulate a mother’s body to produce just the right amount of milk to meet their needs. Pumping in addition to breastfeeding can potentially create a much higher milk volume than what the baby needs.”

But for many mothers, pumping breast milk is essential, especially if they will be separated from their hospitalized baby or have returned to work. Here are some situations that may call for a pump.• The infant is not able to breastfeed directly. The pump acts as a mechanical baby to stimulate and maintain the mother’s milk volume until the baby can breastfeed directly.• The baby is not breastfeeding well. If a baby is not breastfeeding long enough or effectively (sucking or latching-on problems) then the pump can provide the stimulation the mother needs to produce enough milk.• Moms need to return to work outside the home.Pump types

The type of pump depends on the circumstances and how long and often a mother needs to express milk.• Hospital-grade electric pumps are available for rental and are the best for mothers who must pump long-term.• Smaller electric and/or manual pumps will fit the bill for short-term or infrequent pumping.Pumping help

Pumping breast milk does take practice, but today’s pumps are much easier to use and more comfortable than those of the past. Hurst said it is worth the extra effort to give babies the first step toward a lifetime of healthy nutrition.

“I haven’t met a mother yet that loves to pump,” said Hurst. “But I have met thousands of committed and dedicated women who pump to ensure their baby gets the very best nutrition possible – their breast milk.”

Texas Children’s Lactation Program helps new and experienced mothers with pumping, providing online resources for information, consultations over the phone and in person, and breast pump rentals (including guidance on how to use the pump).

Visit www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/milkbank to read more about breastfeeding and pumping tips.

Experts from the Texas Children’s Lactation Program can help mothers make the best decision for their baby.

George Miller has had ties to Texas Children’s since birth, spending nearly six months in the NICU. So it’s no surprise that he has a special attachment to the hospital. Miller is a full-time member of the Texas Children’s family – he serves as the manager of technical support for Information Services. And he recently celebrated his 20th year of employment. Miller is recognized by many in the organization for his exceptional leadership, contagious positivity, passionate spirit and unwavering dedication.

It is evident that he is a firm believer of the Texas Children’s slogan, Service with Heart, and

goes above and beyond his job requirements to care for his team’s well-being, job performance, work environment and happiness.Miller’s secrets to success

Have a dedicated mentor that you talk with regularly. Miller says that his mentors have played a key role in his personal and professional growth and he also encourages people to be a mentor to others.

read the book “think and grow rich, a Black Choice.” Miller says he has read this book hundreds of times and recommends every one read it. The book’s theme shares ways to control outcomes by managing thoughts.

George Miller (middle) was honored as a Texas Children’s Super Star Employee at the Texas Children’sAnnual Employee Recognition Celebration.

Fire safetyThe recent stories of fire tragedies in the news serve as a reminder to be diligent about protecting our families from fire-related injuries. Seema Patel, manager of Texas Children’s Center for Childhood Injury Prevention, offers some fire-related tips to help keep your family safe.• Ask your children what they would do if there is a fire. Some of the most common responses from elementary school children is to “stop, drop and roll.” While that may work if they are on fire, that technique will not help them if their home, daycare or surroundings are on fire.• Do not leave children unattended in rooms when you are using fireplaces, candles or other heat sources. Children are naturally curious and may unintentionally start a fire if they are left unsupervised.• Make sure that working smoke alarms are in every bedroom and on all levels of your home and the batteries are tested each month.• There should be two ways out of every room (i.e. windows and doors).• Create a fire escape plan with your children and practice it at least twice a year so that they will know what to do in case of a fire. • Pick a “safe place” for every member of the family to meet outside.• Frightened children may try to hide from the fire/smoke or go looking for other family members. Teach your children the “get out and stay out!” message. Tell them if there is a fire in the home, their biggest responsibility is to get to your family’s “safe place” outside so that you can find them.

To help you get started on your family’s fire escape plan, learn more from the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.

WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 DEFENDER 9

MK-

120

8-0

07

Texas Children’s Health Plan covers children from newborns

to teenagers. We even cover adults and pregnant moms

through STAR Medicaid. Families with children who qualify for

CHIP pay $50 or less a year. Those who qualify for Medicaid

pay nothing. CHIP and STAR Medicaid offer a wide

range of benefits including checkups and shots,

dental services, medications, and more.

With Texas Children’s Health Plan you

also get:

■ Over 2,100 doctors.

■ A 24-hour nurse hotline.

■ Free transportation to doctor visits.

■ Pregnancy support program and classes.

■ Help losing weight through the

Keep Fit Program.

■ Learn how to play soccer from the Houston

Dynamo coaches.

■ Fun, free member events!

For more information, to receive an

application, or to find an event in your

area, visit us online or call today.



sports

continue to give back through the YMCA

By mAx EdiSONDefender

As the Texans prepare for their 10th year as an NFL franchise they have yet to make a playoff appearance. Many fans feel the team is at a critical crossroad on the

field. While the players and owners are engaged in a contentious labor dispute, the Texans organization continues to show a Super Bowl mentality when it comes to their work in the Houston community. No place is that commitment more evident than with the Texans YMCA.

The Texans Y is located at the corner of Griggs and Martin Luther King in the Palm Center com-munity of Third Ward. It opened earlier this year (Jan. 3) replacing the old South Central YMCA. The facility is the first in the country named after an NFL franchise.

The new facility is the first and most visible result of a larger partnership between the Texans and the YMCA. In keeping with the Texans’ stated goal of being the most community-connected professional sports franchise in the world, the team selected the YMCA as its primary strategic com-munity partner and will work with Y staff to develop program-ming to benefit those served by the facility.

Texans YMCA Board Chair Alan Bergeron shares what the relationship with the team has meant to the Y and the area it serves.

“This Y has meant so much to this community,” Bergeron said. “It is the former South Central YMCA that transformed into this beautiful facility. This facility serves a community of nearly 250,000 people in this general area, and we have a little over 33,000 members at this point. I think you’ll find that in this com-

munity, there has not been much in terms of green space, so this was much needed and much appreciated, and it will be well-used in the decades to come.”

Recently the “green space” portion of the facility was front and center when the Texan Y unveiled the new football field, which is now officially open for play.

The playing field was funded through a $100,000 grant from the NFL’s Youth Football Fund and the Local Initiatives Support Council (LISC). The Texans sponsored the YMCA’s grant proposal to the NFL Youth Football Fund. BMC Software contributed an additional $20,000 for the field, bringing the total funding to $120,000.

Texan team president Jamey Rootes conveyed the NFL franchise’s core philosophy.

“As an organization, we’ve got three primary objectives.”

Rootes said. “We want to win championships; we want to create memorable experiences for people; and we want to do great things for our community. Certainly, this field is a positive reflec-tion of that opportunity for us to do great things for Houston, particularly for this area. As far as memories, there will be thousands and thousands of kids that will have memorable expe-riences in the game of football out here. And from time to time, people will win championships here. So this is clearly right up our alley in supporting an initiative like this. The NFL Grassroots Grant is such an important way for us to make a difference in our community and to grow the game of football from the grassroots level up.”

LISC executive director Amanda Timm shared her com-pany’s involvement with projects such as the Texan Y.

“Our mission is to build sustainable communities, which are places where families can live and work and raise their kids,” Timm said. “We do that through partnerships, with organizations at the neighborhood level, but also with city-wide amazing partners like the Houston Texans and BMC Software and the Y. We’re re-ally excited to be part of this field. It is a critical piece of building a sustainable community here in the greater Third Ward. Our future

leaders, the kids, need great places to play and be healthy, and places like this help families come together and be part of a great neighborhood.”

“Here in Houston, we’ve done seven fields, investing over $700,000 and leveraging each dollar multiple times,” Timm contin-ued. “It attracts other investments into these communities, which is a critical part of building sustainable neighborhoods. Healthy communities are neighborhoods that help create a healthy and great city. We’re really excited to be part of this partnership and we look forward to continuing to work with the Texans and the YMCA and BMC Software.”

A tip of the hat to the Texans for their continued work in help-ing to make the city a better place for all Houstonians.

TexansThe Texans reiterate their commitment to the community through the YMCA

Texan QB Coach Gregg Knapp & Texan mascot Toro explain the game to commu-nity youth on the new Y football field

Join Darrell Ardison and Max Edison for the “Daily Word” in high school,

college and pro sports.

sportsbriefs

11


defendernetwork.com WEEK OF APRIL 7 | 2011 DEFENDER

h.s.zoneThe Woodlands girls win in soccerDue to superior conditioning and sheer hustle, the Woodlands girls defeated Austin Bowie 3-1 to advance to the regional quarterfinals against Klein Oak. A rematch of the 2010 girls’ state Class 5A state semifinals, the contest between the Woodlands and Austin Bowie proved to be one-sided because of the speed and unrelenting defensive pressure provided by the Lady Highlanders. The Woodlands constantly got to loose balls and rarely allowed the Bulldogs to put together an offensive attack.

Colson comes up big for Texas A&MFormer Westside High School standout basketball player Sydney Colson had seen better days in her career. Trying to get Texas A&M into its first ever NCAA championship game, Colson ran into a clean pick set by Stanford forward Nwecka Ogumike and had to leave the game. When Colson returned, all she did was feed a teammate for the game-winning basket in the Lady Aggies’ 63-62 victory. Texas A&M advanced to the NCAA women’s title game against Notre Dame.

Astros prepare tocelebrate RobinsonApril 15 of every year marks the day back in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. On this April 15, the Houston Astros will host several activities honoring Robinson’s legacy. The Jackie Robinson Day festivities will commemorate the milestone celebrated league-wide by all Major League Baseball clubs. The Astros will play host to the San Diego Padres. Fans can join the celebration and take advantage of special Jackie Robinson Day ticket pricing by visiting www.astros.com/jackie and using the special ticket password: jackie. Tickets begin at $7.

Will the real Tiger show up?The Masters are on the horizon and one has to wonder if the real Tiger Woods will show up. You remember Tiger don’t you? Once the most dominant golfer on the face of the earth. One has to wonder what ever happened to that guy. Every since his marital issues hit the fan (Thanksgiving ’09) that guy has been missing in action. We’ve seen enough of Eldrick Woods stumbling around in tournaments for the last year. Now is the time for someone to find “Tiger” Woods and tell him they’re teeing up at Augusta this week and he needs to represent!

Still producing winners after 35 years

Porter Robinson

By dARREll K. ARdiSONDefender

Porter Robinson has produced win-ners on both the collegiate and high school levels in track and field for the past 35 years.

There was a time not too long ago that Robinson and other track coaches, particu-larly in the inner city, had a relatively large number of student-athletes to choose from.

That is not the case these days.Robinson had to wait until Worthing’s

playoff run in girls’ basketball ended before he could begin track practice. Nearly every one of his returning track and field competi-tors also played basketball.

This list included four-year lettermen Jenzel Nash, Kiara C. Smith, Ebonie Jones, Sade Picquet and Sane Picquet. Robin-son also counted on sophomore Brittany Pickett from the basketball team and sophomore Lexus Griffin, a holdover from last year.

Several other team members showed up after track practice began.

Robinson says the dwindling numbers in track and field is the direct result of more entertainment options for youngsters along with other sports for them to be involved in.

Yet with fewer numbers, Robinson continues to produce winning competitors.

At the 33rd annual Pat Patterson Relays held at the Joe Kelly Butler Sports Complex last weekend, the Worthing girls claimed four gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Nash, the nation’s leading scorer in girls’ high school bas-ketball this season (37.7 points per game), placed first in the long jump, while running a leg on all three relay teams.

Sane Picquet won the 1,600-meter run and Pickett earned a bronze medal in the shot put.

Worthing won the 4x200-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay. The Lady Colts placed second in the 4x100-meter relay.

“We’re gearing for the upcoming district meet,” Robinson said. “We had five other invitational meets and took them one

meet at a time. Now we’re peaking at just the right time.”Robinson has been seen at virtually every big track and field

meet held in the Houston area over the past 35 years.He coached the sport at Texas Southern University for 21

years. Since then he has coached the girls’ track and field team at Worthing High School. One year he coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams at Worthing.

What he witnessed at the Pat Patterson Relays just reinforced the regimen he has set forth for all of his teams over the years.

“It’s always good to see the maturity of your team,” Robinson said. “Watching the upperclassmen show the lower classmen how to execute at the track meet.”

Worthing’s winning 4x200-meter relay squad consisted of Griffin, Nash, Smith and Sane Piquet running the anchor leg.

In the mile relay, Sane’s twin sister Sade caught the Yates anchor leg down the stretch to win the gold medal.

The Houston Independent School District track and field meets were originally scheduled to be held at Barnett Stadium. A sink hole near the finish line is under repair and the meet could be moved to Butler Stadium.

Worthing head girls track and field coach Porter Robinson (top left) and assistant coach Leslie Harris (top right) along with team members Jenzell Nash, Kiara C. Smith, Ebonie Jones Sade Picquet, Sane Picquet, Lexus Griffin and Chloe Sanders.

12

chag’splace



For Event Coverage ..visit defendernetwork.com

Melvin and Frances Plummerx Honorees Melanie Lawson, John Guess, Jr. and Ginni Mithoff Reginald and Rhonda Adams

Eric Lyons, Jacqueline Carpenter and James GaravagliaHCCC President & CEO, Eric Lyons and NCAA Executive, Dr. Bernard Franklin Scholarship Winners Brionne Doyle and Christian Fuller

Carol Galloway, Dr. Rod Paige and Stephanie Paige Howard Jefferson and Yolanda Smith NAACP Executives, Gary Bledsoe and Benjamin Jealous

CRAFTING A LEGACY……..The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) hosted its Spring Luncheon by honoring Melanie Lawson and her partner, John Guess Jr., along with Ginni and Richard Mithoff at the River Oaks Country Club. Both couples are passionate collectors of fine arts and crafts, especially glass art, and items from their collection have been featured in exhibitions around the world. HCCC is a non- profit arts organization founded to advance education about the process, product and history of craft. We salute these art collectors!........ EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT…….The Houston Citizens

Chamber Foundation recently held their 35th Annual Educational Achievement Awards Luncheon at the Power Center and presented scholarships to 10 graduating high school students. The presentation of scholarships was made by president and CEO, Eric

Lyons, and vice president of public affairs/Comerica Bank, James Garavaglia, who also served as honorary chair along with Jacqueline Carpenter, director of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Dr. Bernard W. Franklin, executive vice

president of NCAA Membership & Student-Athlete Affairs/chief inclusion officer, delivered

the keynote address. Congrats!......... REGIONAL CONFERENCE…….The NAACP Southwestern Region VI held its 2011 Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute (CRATI) at the Crown Plaza Hotel, and chose the theme: “Civil Rights Under Siege: Planning For A Better Future.” President and CEO of the NAACP, Benjamin T. Jealous, delivered the keynote address at their annual Freedom Fund banquet. Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, was all smiles at the success of the conference. Continued success!..........CONDOLENCES……..Our prayers are with State Rep. Alma Allen and her family for the loss of her husband, Lawrence Allen Sr. Think of it this way, he’s now your guardian angel appointed by God to look after all of you. God bless!.......

Events of the Week More photos on defendernetwork.com

Join Yvette Chargois

See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s Crossroadswith Melanie Lawson Sunday Morning @ 11 a.m.

april 07, 2011

Documents

new size

new content

new defender logo

new attitudedesigned

new attitudeis

tabloid size

years of service

all2onthewebdefender